35. Gage

35

GAGE

T he last top cut of the tree fell to the ground with a crash. Dirt and leaves rushed up around it before settling back to the earth. Gage adjusted his rig and climbed down the rest of the tree trunk. He could finish the rest from the ground.

Another tree down, and dozens to go. After that, they'd have to do something about stumps before bringing in fill dirt to level everything out. It would be a good spot for stables, but the work was moving slowly.

As worried as she'd been about not being able to help, having Hadley around would definitely speed things up. Every little thing moved the whole project along.

Mr. Benson stepped into the clearing holding the trimmer and looking from one side to the other .

As soon as Gage's feet were on the ground, he pulled the safety goggles off his face and wiped his brow. "Everything okay?"

Mr. Benson's frown deepened. "Where's Hadley?"

Gage looked around. He hadn't seen her since before he scaled the last tree. "I thought she was with you."

"She was, but she stopped for a break about ten minutes ago."

Gage was still trying to calm his breathing. Holding himself and a chainsaw up for hours had him wishing for a break too. "And you haven't seen her since?"

Travis stood from where he'd been chopping logs. "I haven't seen her either, but maybe she needed a bathroom break."

Gage pulled his phone from his pocket and called her. As soon as he pressed the phone to his ear, the chime of her ringtone called to him from a few feet away.

Mr. Benson picked the phone up from the leaves and looked around. "She dropped her phone."

Gage's chest heaved, despite his attempts to breathe through the growing unease. It didn't mean she was in trouble. He'd just have to figure out another way to find her.

He looked up at the sky through the thick trees. The midday sun lit up almost everything from its position above them .

"Hadley!" Travis shouted.

Mr. Benson waved Gage and Travis over. "Come look at this."

Gage was beside Mr. Benson in an instant, looking at the ground where he pointed.

"Everything is a little stirred up over here."

There were gouges in the dirt, and places where the grass was smashed down. In the shade near the tree line, a patch of leftover ice had clear grooves in it.

"How did we all miss it?" Travis asked, monotone and hollow behind Gage.

The blood in his ears roared, drowning out everything except the places where the ground was disturbed. His body got the message loud and clear–it was time to panic. A wave of freezing cold slid down the sweat on his back.

Gage took Hadley's phone from Mr. Benson. "What's that way?"

"A creek and some bluffs. Not much."

He turned to Travis and pinned his friend with a serious stare. "Call Dawson. Tell him what we're dealing with and to send everyone he can."

"Are you sure? Shouldn't we look around a little?"

Gage was already on the trail, following the tracks in the ground into the woods. "Right now, Trav."

Gage called over his shoulder to Mr. Benson who trailed behind him, "What's the closest road to this area? Tell Dawson where to look. Call everyone we know."

"Got it."

Gage wanted to rush the search. Running would get him to her faster, but scanning for clues took precious time–time Hadley probably didn't have.

Hadley. Just thinking about her had his throat in knots. Who got to her? Tommy was the only one out on bail. He wasn't the instigator like Bruce, but there was a chance he wanted to get back at Gage.

This was all his fault. Hadley was in danger because of him. He'd never forgive himself if something happened to her.

He couldn't hear anything, and pulsing red tinged the edges of his vision. Everything blended together in leaves, dirt, and rocks. He looked ahead at more of the same. Nothing but trees in every direction he turned.

Soon Mr. Benson's voice was behind him. He was doing exactly what Gage had asked him to–calling everyone they knew to come help with the search. Travis was on his cell somewhere to their right, also searching as he moved through the trees.

Gage's phone rang, and he pulled it out without breaking his concentration. "Hello."

"We're on our way. Don't do anything stupid," Asa said.

"They have Hadley. I can't make any promises. "

"Let us handle this."

Blood pumped in heavy waves through Gage's body, pushing him into action he couldn't take when he hadn't found her yet. "I'll burn this whole place down to find her. Do what you have to do, but don't get in my way."

"Gage–"

"Who's coming?" His boots crunched over leaves and limbs as he followed the trail of disturbed dirt. It looked like something had scraped across the ground, and Gage didn't allow his mind to linger on that harrowing piece of evidence.

"We have officers out on calls. She's been missing for less than an hour."

"Every second counts, Asa. Bring more. I want everyone in Blackwater out here."

"We're doing everything we can. We'll find her."

Gage's breaths came quicker. "I have to find her."

Asa's tone was softer, missing the tension from seconds before. "I know. We will. Tommy is being tracked by his ankle monitor. He should be at home, but we have officers en route to check."

Dread landed in his gut like a rock. "What about the Wilsons?"

"Bobby and Zach are locked up and far away. We'd know if they'd somehow escaped federal prison."

"Rome. Where's Rome?" Surety fueled his search as soon as he spoke the name. Rome was behind this, and knowing the danger did nothing to suppress the adrenaline pumping through his body.

"We haven't seen Rome in years. Last word we got about him was from your interview."

"He's behind this. I know it." Gage swallowed hard. Rome took too many notes from the Howards' playbook, and he had a thirst for vengeance. "He wants me to find them. It's why he didn't cover his tracks."

"Why?"

"The same reason they didn't kill Thea. They wanted Brett to find her and…" The knot in his stomach rolled, burning the sickness into fury. "He wants me to watch."

"Shoot. I'll call in reinforcements." The line went dead as soon as Asa finished his sentence.

Gage called over his shoulder, "You two armed?"

Both Mr. Benson and Travis confirmed. No one went out into the woods without a weapon, but he had to make sure they were ready for a different kind of predator.

"Don't hesitate. It's Rome Wilson."

Travis mumbled something, but everyone kept going. The Wilsons were almost as infamous as the Howards and Pattons. Rome was a household name, but not one you'd bring up in good company.

"I've got a trail over here." There wasn't much sense in splitting up if the path was laid out for them in plain sight. Rome was leading him straight to the trap, and there wasn't anything Gage could do to stop it.

The flat land began to rise, leading them to a blind peak. "Where does this lead?" Gage asked.

"There's a bluff and a creek below it. If we want to cross, we have to go that way." Mr. Benson pointed to the right where the hill led down into a valley.

Rome could have taken her to the top, realized it was a dead end, and followed the bluff down to the crossing. If he did, they were wasting precious time climbing the hill.

"You two head that way. I'll follow the trail."

Travis picked up his pace since he didn't have to follow the trail anymore.

Gage turned to Mr. Benson. "You head toward the middle and see if you can spot the trail leading down. If not, call Travis and have him come back up."

Mr. Benson veered off with a nod. They didn't have time for thanks or apologies, but Gage owed the man both. Both men had jumped into the search without a second thought, despite the danger they were headed toward.

Gage stuck to the trail with his heart beating out of control in his chest. If he didn't calm down, he wouldn't be able to hear any movement over his own fear.

A flash of Hadley's smiling face in his mind prompted a thought about prayer, and he leaned into the lifeline.

God, I know I haven't proven myself, but please don't let anything happen to Hadley. I need her. I can't live without her. God, please.

A shuffling sound cut off his prayer, and he slowed his pace to listen. It was definitely a rustling, but it could be an animal.

Then a man's muffled voice filtered through the noise. What was he saying? Gage couldn't hear the words yet.

Crouching, he crept closer to the voice, hiding behind the cover of trees as he approached. The closer he got, the better he could hear Rome's scattered words. He fired off a message to Travis and Mr. Benson letting them know she was at the top of the hill. If they cornered Rome on three sides, he'd be trapped.

Slowly, Gage positioned himself against the first tree on the top of the hill and pulled out his pistol. The metal was heavy and cold in his hands as he chambered a round. If Hadley was standing anywhere near Rome, using the weapon wouldn't be an option.

Peeking around the tree, Gage caught sight of Rome and Hadley. Her hands were tied behind her back, and she lay facedown against the ground. Rome's hand was pressed to her back, pinning her as he crouched beside her .

Hadley jerked her shoulder back, trying and failing to flip her body. Rome leaned over and pressed harder on her shoulder, spitting curses and threats if she didn't hold still.

Hadley was still alive and conscious, but that did nothing to calm the hot fury inside him. Gage's breaths grew deeper and came faster as he gripped his gun in his hand and stepped out from behind the tree. He'd taken three purposeful steps, locked on his target, before Rome looked up.

"Finally." Rome jerked Hadley to her feet and positioned her in front of him. "I thought you'd never get here."

Gage lowered his gun but kept advancing. He couldn't use a gun with Hadley between them, but there were plenty of ways he could rip Rome apart.

Rome jerked Hadley back, holding her tight against his chest. "Don't take another step."

"You're gonna wish you were never born," Gage promised low and steady as he forged ahead.

Hadley's breath hitched. "He's got a gun!"

Rome jerked the weapon from his belt and leveled it at Gage. "I was getting to that."

"You better not miss," Gage warned as he neared Rome and Hadley.

Rome jerked Hadley back with one arm, keeping the gun aimed at Gage. "Stop, or I'll throw her."

Gage's steps jerked to a stop as he noticed how close Hadley's feet were to the edge of the bluff. The rocky outcropping jutted out over a fifty-foot drop to the rocky river below.

"Don't do it," Gage ordered. "Let her go, and no one gets hurt."

Rome laughed. "See, you should have thought twice before messing with my business. I gotta make an honest living just like everybody else."

Gage scoffed. "Honest."

Rome shrugged, still keeping a tight hold on Hadley as she jerked beside him. "Honest enough for me. You're the traitor here."

"Last chance. Let her go." He needed one chance–a single second to distract Rome and get closer to Hadley.

"No, you're the one out of chances." Rome jerked the arm holding onto Hadley, and she let out a shrill scream as she tumbled over the rocky cliff.